Caloric Intake, daily

[~amy~ 1]

Anywhere in between 800 and 1000...I usually end up around 900.

[adagray 1]

about 1600

[browneyes29203 0]

My daily intake is betwn 800 to 1000. I notice also if I drop under 800 I go into starvation mode and loss nothing. I'm one pound away from Twoderville yet so far away!!!

[slow_but_steady 0]

I am aware of what and how much I eat, but I don't count calories. Make healthy choices since you can only eat so much with the band. Follow the no drink before, during, after meals and you'll stay full longer. Makes sense to me, but I'm only 3 weeks post op. I expect I'll be whining and rethink the calorie counting when I hit the plateau.

[bambam31 168]

My doctor and nutritionist said 1200 cal a day. I was eating a lot less and had an appointment yesterday. They told me I should be eating up to a salad plate size portion(s) at each meal. If I eat too low calories then my body will either stop losing or start gaining. People think the lower calories the more weight loss. The truth is you send your body into starvation mode when you don't eat enough calories for normal body function.

I found this website that has some interesting facts. Even with the band, which is just a tool, you need to keep up a healthy caloric intake. Of course, everyone is different. This is the advice of my doctor and nutritionist.

Calorie Intake to Lose Weight

Ah... one of my more passionate LBT topics... :tongue:

I am in agreement with anglov... :sad:

Who cares if you lose "weight?" We want to lose FAT! That's different than just weight! Fluids and lean muscle tissue weigh more than fat - and are the first to go at a higher percentage (relative to fat) if you are starving your body. :frown:

Your body's #1 goal is survival. So if you try to starve it, it will shed what is most costly to keep - metabolically active lean muscle tissue. When you eat a set number of calories day after day, your body knows exactly what to expect - and adjust to. If that calorie intake level is 800 - it knows it's being starved. So it goes into survival mode and starts shedding that which takes the most calories to maintain - your lean muscle tissue, and along with it, it's associated fluids. You think your doing great because that scale keeps dropping - but you've actually set in a motion a disaster. As you lose lean muscle tissue, so goes your metabolism. Once you've met the equalibrium - welcome Mr. Plateau. Your in a stall... no more weight loss. Only now your a skinnier fat person with a burned out metabolism.

There's an alternative... To lose fat you need a calorie deficit. But don't get that from diet alone! Get some from eating fewer calories and some more from burning more calories. Cycle your calorie intake along with SUFFICIENT exercise (that's 3 - 5 days a week with good intensity). Eat higher calories on heavier work out days and lowest calories on no work out days. Your body does not slip into the survival mode rut and you'll feel so much more energized from the exercise. Oh... and the scale will keep moving downward from FAT LOSS...

How many people have you encountered on LBT who eat very few calories or do very little to no exercise and then plateau midway through their journey??? I was one of 'em... But I learned... This theory works!

Plateau's, IMO, are not normal... They mean something is not right. You have to listen to your body and what it's telling you and make the necessary adjustments.

I saw my surgeon today for the first time in a year. I got my sixth fill. Yet tonights dinner included Ribeye Steak - and it went down just fine! (no my doc doesn't have a fill day diet routine). Life with a band is not a race to see who can eat the least. I eat anywhere from 1000 - 3500 calories a day, depending on the days activities. My body fat percentage continues to drop.

Good luck - play hard!

Brad

Edited June 12, 2010 by bambam31

[caldwell33 0]

I want to personally thank all who replied. It's interesting to read what everyone is doing or thinks. I think it reinforces each of us that we are on the right track but, maybe on a different train, but the destination is the same. Thanks again for being such a great group of people. We all have the same goal, and we will all reach our goals but in different ways, hopefully helping each of us together as one successful group. God Bless all and keep positive! Eileen:tt1:

[Liftingchic 0]

Great post Brad Well said!

[YoungBlackAndBanded 0]

Betsy...what do you do to burn that many calories a day? WOW!

I think she meant exercise + what your body burns daily just by living.

I try to stay between 900-1100

[Nean4488 1]

about 1600

how do you eat this many calories with the band? It seems that when I eat around 1400 cals thats when I lose weight, but I cant seem to eat that much while being banded!

[KidLaw 0]

Wow, I have no idea how many calories I take in a day. I know I'm supposed to be aiming for 900-1,000 calories. But, I prefer the carb/protein count that my nutritionist seems to prefer anyways.

70-80 grams of Protein a day

> 40 grams of carbs a day

So, far I've done pretty well with this. I eat Jello and fat-free pudding when I want a little something sweet. I DON'T drink calories at all (well, except for some crystal light). Most of my carbs come from vegetables, pudding, and/or a Protein shake.

[KathyinAZ 0]

Hi Everyone: I was banded on March 24, 2010. I was wondering if anyone will share on the average amount of calories they are intaking on a daily basis. It seems to be each doctor recommends a different figure. I have had only one fill of 4 cc and have an appointment for my second fill on June 17th. Just curious. I am staying at approximately 900-1000 calories per day. Thanks for being honest and sharing your experiences, Eileen

Hi Eileen,

I didn't know how much to take in per day and I started to keep track of my intake on a website Livestrong my daily plate.com and it keeps track of all of your intakes and there's a place you put in your height, weight amount you want to lose a week (which should probably be 1-2 pounds/week) and what type of exercise you do. Then it basically tells you about how many calories per day you should be taking in. I would say it should be at least 1200 a day. I have done it this way and have lost 47 pounds in 5 months. I have never had a gain on my monthly visits to my surgeon. Good luck.

[Mel Mel 0]

I track on fitday.com. My main focus is on Protein. I get 70-90grams a day. I try to get 60 of that from food. Then I focus on calories and I average 1200 cal a day. Plus exercise 40minutes about 5X a week. Haven't had an adjustment yet but I think I have some restriction and this has been working for me.

[caldwell33 0]

Hi Eileen,

I didn't know how much to take in per day and I started to keep track of my intake on a website Livestrong my daily plate.com and it keeps track of all of your intakes and there's a place you put in your height, weight amount you want to lose a week (which should probably be 1-2 pounds/week) and what type of exercise you do. Then it basically tells you about how many calories per day you should be taking in. I would say it should be at least 1200 a day. I have done it this way and have lost 47 pounds in 5 months. I have never had a gain on my monthly visits to my surgeon. Good luck.

Congradulations! Sounds like you are in a good place. I am loosing about 1-3 pound per week. I have to go for my second fill this Thur. and hope I get some more restriction. I am hungry at times now. Keep up the good work. Eileen